Terran Times 02 - Deal with a Dhemon (7 page)

Deal with a Dhemon

were encased in boots and not the hoofs of legend.

He did seem to have two tiny horns on his head, however, so she guessed that there had been some truth to the tales of the ancients of humanity.

Her hands pressed flat against the glass of the tank as she absorbed every detail of the representative of the race she was being hidden in.

All-in-all he was an extremely handsome specimen. It would not be too arduous a task to spend time with others of his race, from a strictly observational point of view.

As the doctor waved his claws to the tank, she jerked back and hid her naked form as best as she could, with tresses of her hair and the blue liquid flowing in gentle currents around her. The dhemon turned to look at her floating in the tank and his scowl deepened. She could see the furious discussion that he held with the doctor, and the doctor’s gesticulating wildly as his assistant tried to translate.

The dhemon stomped out and Sam relaxed into the tank once again, sleeping as best she could with her body registering the lightest touch, even in the liquid.

A few hours later Moran arrived to check on her. He activated the speaker and spoke.

“General Kassil is having a problem with your accommodation. The doctor will not let you out of the tank for three days, and Kassil wants to leave 15

Viola Grace

now.”

She gestured for him to continue. He looked at her in concern.

“Do you think you will be ok, Sam? I know you took that hit for me, but your species is almost as sensitive as mine to the neural blasts. I still remember the last time you were hit. It took you months to recover.”

She smiled slightly and wiggled her fingers at him to indicate that she would be fine.

“Adal has moved your things to the warship.

Well, she supervised. The General was very generous with your accommodations on board.

You have a lovely suite with a private sanitation chamber. I think he gave you his best VIP

quarters, so be nice.”

She gave him a wicked grin, and nodded to indicate she would be on her best behavior.

“They are working on the logistics of transporting you in the tank. A contingent from the ship, including the medical officer should be here soon. I have to get back work—there was a riot when your retirement was announced. The place is a mess.” He shook his head and looked mournful.

“Take care of yourself Sam. Adal and I will really miss you. I want you to contact us as soon as you are settled. I mean it.” He pressed his hand up to the glass.

16

Deal with a Dhemon

She matched it on the other side. They shared a long look, years of friendship and understanding passing between them. Her hand curled into a fist and she gave him the closest thing to a Hunter salute that she could manage while tangled in the web of tubes.

He straightened and echoed her salute, bowing deeply to indicate respect for a superior. Sam’s face curled into a wistful smile and she waved goodbye as he left her alone in medical. She thought that she may have cried as her friend left, but in the supporting liquid of the tank, who could tell?

An hour later, a troupe of dhemons walked into medical, and with the help of some of the assistants, disconnected her tank. She was transported through the halls under guard. There were six crew members moving the tank, and twenty guarding it. A crew member that she had to assume was the ship’s doctor jogged alongside her tank, monitoring her vitals and taking notes.